STEELE, N.D. (KFGO) – A semi-truck driving westbound on I-94 just before 7 a.m. on Friday struck the underside of an overpass near mile marker 197, three miles west of Steele, North Dakota.
The semi-truck was hauling a coil tubing reel cradle on a flatbed trailer approximately 17 feet high. The driver, a 29-year-old male from Denver, Colorado, suffered no injury when the semi passed under the overpass at MM 197 (22nd Ave SE) the top of the coil tubing reel struck the bottom of the overpass causing extensive damage to the concrete girders, and load on the trailer. Concrete debris fell onto the interstate, and the truck stopped a short time later. North Dakota Department of Transportation was contacted to inspect the bridge, which was deemed structurally sound. No injuries were reported. The overpass at this location has a vertical clearance of 15 feet 11 inches. The driver was cited for not having an oversized permit.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol would like to stress the importance of obtaining required permits for all oversized vehicles to prevent such instances. It is essential to obtain permits so the oversized vehicles/loads can be routed properly to bypass any highway width and height restrictions. Permits and information about legal vehicle size and weight can be obtained at the NDHP website: https://www.nd.gov/ndhp.
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